It’s not a strip show! Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus perform in their smalls as they fight for the limelight on sexed up MTV VMAs 2013

However, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus all took to the stage at the MTV VMAs 2013 on Sunday, giving some of their most raunchiest performances to date.

All three ladies - who are currently promoting new albums - chose skimpy outfits for their respective routines, with both Lady Gaga and Miley stripping down to their underwear, while Katy wore boxing shorts and a tight fitting crop top.

Scroll down for video...

Celebrity skin! Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry all showed off their flesh at the MTV VMAs 2013

The first to disrobe was Lady Gaga
with Applause, the call-out single from her new album ARTPOP and the
outrageous star certainly set the bar sky high for her peers.

It was a much-anticipated performance following a string of pictures that the singer had posted on-line and teased her fans with.

Gaga made no less than five outfit changes with the high energy performance of the song - resulting in a shell bikini top and thong.

Quick change! Lady Gaga performs Applause during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York on Sunday... as she changes her outfit FOUR times

The awards started with a close-up of the singer in a nun's habit outfit, she then made a series of extremely quick outfit changes - which ended up with the star bearing her bottom.

Big winner: Justin eventually took home four awards during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York

The Best Female Video followed, presented by Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk who dished out the award to Taylor Swift for I Knew You Were Trouble.

And it appeared that Taylor took the opportunity to take a swipe at her ex Harry Styles.

'I want to thank the fans because I tweeted about this a lot, I really wanted this,' she said.

Coming out fighting: Katy Perry did her best impression of a professional boxer as she took to her exterior stage just by Brooklyn Bridge

Eye of the tiger: Katy performed her new single Roar at the awards show, and appeared to be in a fighting spirit

Fighting fit: Katy showed off her toned body in her revealing sportswear as she performed her new single

But then quickly added: 'I also want to thank the person who inspired this song because he knows exactly who he is, because now I've got one of these', the camera then panned to an awkward looking Harry.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton won again, for Best Video with a social message.

The rapper explained the important message behind the song, saying: 'Gay rights are our human rights, there is no separation'.

Outside bed: Katy performed in a boxing ring that was placed by Brooklyn Bridge in New York

Ready to Roar: Katy wowed fans who had waited outside in Brooklyn to see her perform

One direction: Katy points out to her adoring crowd as she performs her new single Roar to promote upcoming album Prism

Taylor Swift and her buddy for the night Selena Gomez danced together as Justin sang Rocky Your Body.

However, the atmosphere was brought to a standstill when Justin announced 'You asked for it' as the much rumored 'N Sync reunion took place.

Singing Girlfriend and Bye Bye Bye - Justin and the other members of the band brought the house down.

Moving on? Taylor happily posed with Bruno Mars backstage at the event that was held in Brooklyn, New York

'Don't worry, I wasn't talking about you': Taylor Swift appeared to be very keen to have a word with Justin Timberlake as got back to his seat in the star-studded audience

But alas, Justin then went back to his solo material singing a rendition of Suit & Tie as his former band mates JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick quickly exited the stage.

Justin, dressed in a black suit and black hat with a red feather, was given the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award by Jimmy Fallon.

'I don't deserve the award, but I'm not going to give it back,' Justin said. 'I'm taking this home.'

Power players: Rihanna, who did not perform at the event, posed with Will Smith at the event who attended with his whole family

Mini-grill: Rihanna went for a casual look with an MC Lyte t-shirt and a gold addition between her teeth

Take that, Taylor! Swift wasn't the only one posing up with members of the opposite sex, as Harry Styles met Rihanna

'Half of the moonmen I've ever won, I won with those four guys right there,' Justin said pointing at his former band mates while holding the Vanguard trophy. 'So above all else, I'm going to share this - we can keep it my house - but I'm going to share this award with them.'

Justin's night was topped off by winning Video of the Year for Mirrors and gave an emotional acceptance speech, thanking his grandfather who recently passed away.

Giving Justin a run for his money however was Bruno Mars, who proved his vocal power in a strong performance.

Power: Bruno Mars almost stole the show from Justin Timberlake with his incredible voice

Making an impact: Bruno Mars performed Gorilla at the event and made a big impression with his stage pyrotechnics

Winning smile: Bruno Mars took home two MTV moonmen Best Male Video and Best Choreography

But really battling it out to be the best was Katy Perry who performed her new single Roar in a boxing ring situated outside by Brooklyn Bridge.

Unlike her competitors Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, Katy kept herself relatively covered in a boxers outfit as she performed outside.

Rihanna, 25, was also at the event although she did not perform.

Instead, the Barbadian beauty sat back and enjoyed the show mingling with Will Smith and Harry Styles respectively.

Old and new: Rappers Lil' Kim and Iggy Azalea united to present the award for Best Hip Hop Video